Being A Disciple
For a very long time I have not understood what faith really is. Faith is believing that God is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (See Hebrews 11:16)
God made a promise to Abraham Genesis 26:3-5 (New King James Version)3 Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 4 And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; 5 because Abraham obeys My voice and keeps My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”
Abraham didn’t understand how it could happen for he was a hundred years old and his wife was far beyond childbearing age. Yet Abraham obeyed, even to offering Isaac, his son as a sacrifice, for he believed that God could raise him from the dead if need be. Abraham’s faith passes the test!
God’s desire and will is that Christians should be a holy people. Holy people do believe. But how do I believe in someone and trust someone I don’t know? I have to see the evidence. God gave us that evidence through His Son, Jesus. God loved us enough to unselfishly send His only Son to die to free us from our sins and from he fear of death. Jesus loved us enough to unselfishly go to the cross for us, give his blood to atone for our sin, and redeem us from death. Then He arose from the dead.
That proves that we can trust God. Trusting and believing is an act of our will. Because we trust we can obey, that is keep his commandments and serve him with all our heart. We can be sure to reap the results of his love and keep all his promises. Obedience may not come easy because it means that we must abandon our selfish ways, motives and habits and make His will the law of our life. Jesus says “Take up your cross and follow me.” I say, ”I will”.
1 comment:
Howard, I found my way here after you posted on my blog earlier today. I use to think trust in God was something I had to do. I've heard it all my life, "you need to trust God more". It always seemed to sound like it was something I needed to try harder at. I found that exercise somewhat unsuccessful. Today I see trust as more of a product and outcome of me growing in God's love through an intimate relationship with him. The more I become grounded in his unconditional love for me(which is not based on any of my effort)we are perfectly loved without doing anything. Knowing that, I come to understand that he is the safest place for me to be even at my worst moment. That understanding is changing everything in my life personally and also how I see the world and engage those around me with this awsome Father who's love will set us free from all those things that deminish us as his children.
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